Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : Vulnerable people encouraged to seek help with energy bills [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 26 January 2024.

Families struggling with energy bills are being urged to speak to their council for Household Support Fund help.
- Over £360m has already been spent on helping people with energy and water bills.
- Councils have provided boilers, loft insulation and can help with the cost of essentials such as food and bills.
People struggling with the cost of energy bills this winter are being encouraged to speak to their council about the financial help available from the Department for Work and Pensions’ Household Support Fund.

The Government has invested over £2 billion into the Fund since it launched, with new statistics now showing more than £360 million has been paid to households for support with energy and water costs between October 2021 and March 2023.

With colder temperatures in recent weeks, the Fund can be used to make homes more energy efficient, as well as help households with bills.

Kingston upon Hull Council have used the Fund to pay for hundreds of boilers and radiators for residents, while others have benefitted from loft insulation, new thermostats, and radiator valves.

Pensioners in Swindon Borough Council have been allocated tens of thousands of pounds ahead of winter for tailored heating support, including fuel and energy grants as well as repairs and maintenance to heating systems.

The Fund is part of the government’s work to deliver a brighter future for Britain, building long-term economic security and stability, as well as a Britain where hard work is rewarded, and families are supported. That is why the government has worked to bring inflation down by more than half while cutting taxes which will help make the income of hardworking people go further.

Minister for Employment, Jo Churchill MP, said:

The Household Support Fund is there for anyone who needs a helping hand. This Fund allows councils to help in all kinds of ways – from providing heating support, like boilers and insulation, to other needs, such as kitchen essentials, free school meals and warm clothing.

Now inflation has more than halved, and the economy has turned a corner, anyone who feels they need help this winter should get in touch with their local council to find out how this Fund can help them.

As well as heating support, the Fund can help with other needs, such as kitchen essentials, free school meals and clothing to help people during the colder months.

The Fund sits alongside wider government support worth an average £3,700 per household – including up to £900 in direct Cost of Living payments for those on means-tested benefits. As well as this, three million households are expected to benefit from the £150 Warm Home Discount and over 11 million pensioner households received up to £600 in Winter Fuel Payments in December last year.

Working age and disability benefits are also set to rise by 6.7% from April, following last year’s inflation-matching 10.1% rise, and millions of private renters will benefit from boosts to the Local Housing Allowance for 2024-25.

As well as the Household Support Fund, there’s a range of support available to struggling households. Through the Help for Households campaign, people have access to information and support on a range of issues – from Cost of Living Payments to help with childcare costs, mental health advice and more.

To find out what support you may be eligible for go to Help for Households – Get government cost of living support.
January 28, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : The UK supports Ukraine’s response to the Ilyushin II-76 aircraft incident – UK statement at the UN Security Council [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 January 2024.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on International Peace and Security.

Thank you President, and I think USG DiCarlo for her briefing.

At the outset, President, let me express our full support for your handling of the Presidency. I do find it ironic that while the Russian representative chooses to lecture France on UN rules, as he has frequently lectured the UK on our organisation of meetings, his country continues to commit arguably the most egregious and flagrant violation of the UN Charter in this institution’s history.

President, the UK regrets all loss of human life, wherever it occurs.

We fully support Ukraine’s calm and measured response to this aircraft incident and agree that there is an urgent need to establish the facts, as President Zelenskyy has said.

Whilst it is too early to draw conclusions, one thing is clear: when President Putin made the decision to illegally invade Ukraine, he demonstrated his total disregard for the value of human life, including his own citizens. We would not be in this position, and incidents like this would not happen, if it were not for Russia’s full-scale illegal invasion in February 2022.

A sovereign, independent Ukraine did not and does not pose a threat to Russia. Ukrainians want and deserve to live in peace and security, and without interference from their largest neighbour.

Hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost in this war, including over 300,000 Russian soldiers dead and injured, and tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians killed.

Soon this pointless conflict will have lasted for two years. Russia can choose to end the bloodshed. It can withdraw all its military personnel from the internationally recognised borders of Ukraine. And, as a permanent member of this Council, it can uphold purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

Thank you.

January 28, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak appoints Towns Tsar [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 25 January 2024.

The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has appointed Adam Hawksbee as interim Chair for the new high-powered Towns Unit to ensure the voices of UK towns are heard loud and clear across government and that vital regeneration comes to life.

Adam, Deputy Director of the think tank Onward, will help deliver the government’s Long-Term Plan for Towns, backed by £1.1 billion overall, to regenerate 55 towns around the country so people can feel proud of the place they call home.

Each town will receive a 10-year endowment-style fund with £20 million of funding and support to deliver long-term projects focused on the issues that matter most to local people, including regenerating high streets, protecting local heritage and cracking down on anti-social behaviour.

The Unit will ensure the Long-Term Plan for Towns delivers its promise by supporting local leaders to develop proposals, encouraging further investment from businesses and making sure that Towns Boards become long-term institutions that serve their communities.

Adam will be visiting towns up and down the country and reporting directly back to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove on how these places can better level up.

This work as part of the Long-Term Plan for Towns will help local people continue to feel the benefits of a bettering economy – ensuring a brighter future for Britain and more opportunity for generations to come.

Towns Unit Chairman Adam Hawksbee said:

It’s an honour to be heading up this vital work, which will empower communities to transform their towns. The Long-Term Plan for Towns puts local people at the heart of change, letting them choose their own priorities. Whether that’s making high streets safer and cleaner, improving transport links or celebrating local heritage, we will help towns to rebuild a sense of pride.

Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young said:

Towns have been taken for granted for too long and local leaders need long-term funding that goes directly to community priorities, instead of being caught up in public sector red tape. I am excited to be working with Adam to deliver our Long Term Plan for Towns to put power in the hands of communities so that they can decide on local priorities and what’s best their future.

Adam’s work to date has focused on increasing economic growth and strengthening communities across the UK.

He has published research on a range of topics including empowering regional mayors, tackling antisocial behaviour and reforming technical education. He was also previously Head of Policy to Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands.

Adam will be undertaking the role on a part-time basis, alongside his position as Deputy Director of Onward.

January 28, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK confirms full support to 2024 OSCE Chair Malta – UK statement to the OSCE [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 January 2024.

Ambassador Neil Holland thanks Malta for stepping into this critical role and reaffirms the UK’s commitment to the OSCE which must continue to hold Russia to account in its war of aggression against Ukraine.

Minister Borg, on behalf of the UK, I warmly welcome you to the Permanent Council and express our sincere gratitude for the herculean efforts from you and your team, to step in as Chair in Office 2024. Thank you for outlining your priorities for this year.

The UK remains a strong and committed participating State of the OSCE. My Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron, made this clear at the Ministerial Council in Skopje in December, and has since repeated our commitment. You can count on the UK as you lead the organisation through what will doubtless be another challenging year.

We wholeheartedly welcome your continued focus on Ukraine, which must remain at the top of the OSCE agenda until Russia changes its actions, completely withdraws from Ukraine and faithfully complies with the OSCE’s founding principles and instruments. We find ourselves at 700 days since Russia’s unprovoked, illegal, full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which is causing immense devastation to the people of Ukraine. Our response needs to be one of strength, resilience and unity. Now is the time to double down on our support so Ukraine not only wins the war, but emerges from it as a strong, sovereign, and free country. Russia’s efforts to undermine global stability must and will be stopped in its tracks. If we allow Russia to lay waste to this stability, the risks to the OSCE region, and the world, are grave.  We will continue to support the OSCE structures which contribute towards a peaceful resolution and to bringing accountability for the abuses – across the OSCE’s three dimensions – which the people of Ukraine have endured.

The UK was mentioned by my esteemed Russian colleague as waging hybrid war against Russia. This is nonsense. The only war being waged in Ukraine is by Russia against Ukraine. And to categorise UK support for Ukraine to defend itself against a brutal onslaught in this way is another example of the sort of disinformation that we see so often in this forum. The UK is committed to supporting Ukraine to protect itself and will continue to offer unwavering support to Ukraine until it prevails – as it inevitably will.

The UK also supports efforts to ensure peaceful resolutions to the protracted conflicts in Georgia and Moldova, including through the valuable work of the Mission to Moldova. Field missions strengthen stability and governance in the OSCE region, including the Western Balkans and Central Asia – they are a direct, on the ground demonstration of OSCE principles and commitments.

The UK strongly welcomes the 7 December Joint Statement from Armenia and Azerbaijan. The intention to normalise relations, and to reach a peace treaty on the basis of respect for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, was a truly historic moment. We now encourage both parties to seize the opportunity to reach a lasting peace agreement to finally end the decades-long conflict and bring regional stability to the South Caucasus.

We welcome your desire to ensure a resilient organisation. You demonstrated this clearly by stepping into the role of CiO. We know that you are already working on agreement of a unified budget for 2024 and considering how to reach agreement on the leadership of the OSCE. We stand ready to play our part in reaching consensus on these decisions.

We also welcome your support for the autonomous institutions. UK support for the Third Dimension will remain steadfast. In this year of elections and against the growth of authoritarianism globally, it is more important than ever to uphold the OSCE’s founding commitments on democracy and human rights. Media freedom underpins our shared, regional security; we look forward to working closely with you on this agenda too.

We welcome your cross-dimensional approach on other thematic issues – digital security and artificial intelligence, gender and youth, and the security implications of climate change matter to our populations and are closely linked to our OSCE commitments.

Minister Borg, thank you once again for taking on this responsibility at such short notice. Malta can count on the UK’s strong support. We wish you and your very capable teams here in Vienna and in Valletta all the best for your time as Chair-in-Office.

Thank you.

January 28, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Three arrested in fake immigration law firm raid [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 25 January 2024.

Three suspected fraudulent immigration lawyers have been arrested in Greater Manchester following a Home Office raid on Wednesday 24 January.

The suspects are believed to be part of a legal advice firm run by Chinese and British nationals out of a garage attached to a residential property, which had been converted into an office.

The company owners, a married couple, are alleged to have been supplying fake documents to enable foreign nationals to falsify asylum claims and remain in the UK. It is believed they have been charging more than £3,000 per client.

The firm is not registered with either the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner.

Minister for Illegal Migration, Michael Tomlinson MP, said:

This operation shows once again that we are relentless in our pursuit of those we suspect of abusing and gaming our immigration system for profit.

Anyone who is found guilty of this will face the full weight of the law.

Assistant Director of Home Office Criminal and Financial Investigations, Andrew Radcliffe, said:

These arrests send a clear message to the criminals exploiting our laws and borders.

Facilitating illegal entry into the UK will not be tolerated and we are working tirelessly to dismantle networks of people helping illegal migrants stay in the UK by encouraging them to make false claims.

This operation shows the importance of strong intelligence and cooperation between the Home Office and the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC).

John Tuckett, Immigration Services Commissioner, said:

This operation demonstrates how truly valuable our work is to prevent illegal practice and protect the vulnerable.

OISC investigators work across the UK to ensure illegal activity of unregistered immigration advisors is identified, disrupted, and terminated.

We put the advice-seeker first, and by working alongside the Home Office and law enforcement, we are better able to ensure their safety and see an end to this cruel criminal activity.

January 28, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : New law to ban zombie-style knives and machetes [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 25 January 2024.

Zombie-style knives and machetes will be outlawed under legislation laid today. A surrender and compensation scheme will launch in the summer.

Dangerous zombie-style knives and machetes will be banned under new legislation to take these weapons off our streets and keep young people safe.

Under the measures, first announced by the Prime Minister last year and laid before Parliament today, it will be illegal to possess, sell, manufacture or transport these zombie-style knives and machetes.

The government is urging anyone with one of these dangerous weapons to voluntarily hand it into a knife surrender bin, before the official surrender and compensation scheme is launched in the summer. This will get these knives off our streets as soon as possible, while giving people in possession an opportunity to hand them in without legal implications. The full ban will come into in force in September, after which anyone in possession of one of these knives will face time behind bars.

During this time, the government will work with police, communities and partners to ensure there is public awareness of the surrender scheme, which have been implemented in the past to accompany knife bans.

This is just one part of a package of measures being introduced by the government to strengthen existing knife crime laws, which are already among the toughest in the world. It is illegal to carry any knife in public without good purpose, carrying a sentence of 4 years in prison, and, in 2016, the government banned zombie knives, whilst cyclone knives were banned in 2019.

Since 2019, police have taken 120,000 knives off our streets through stop and search and other targeted police action. Knife crime has gone down 5% since 2019 and hospital admissions for under 25s involved in stabbings has fallen by 25%. Violent crime is also down 51% since 2010.

Building on this record, the Criminal Justice Bill will go further by increasing the maximum sentence for the possession of banned weapons from 6 months to 2 years, while anyone caught selling knives to under-18s, including online, will also face 2 years behind bars.

Police will also be given new powers to seize and destroy knives found on private premises if there are reasonable grounds to suspect the blade will be used in a serious crime. Previously, police could not seize knives found during a search on a property, even if they had suspicions of criminal use.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said:

Knife crime continues to take precious lives away, and I am determined to put an end to this senseless violence.

We must stop these dangerous knives ending up on our streets and in the hands of criminals. We cannot let them be sold to children, and we must give young people a way out of violence.

That is why I have expedited the ban on zombie-style machetes and we are increasing the maximum sentence for selling knives to under 18s. We will continue to invest in youth services that have prevented thousands of violent injuries.

Zombie-style knives are just as dangerous as traditional zombie knives, however, they do not have the same distinct images or threatening wording that incites violence.

The police have identified that zombie-style knives are increasingly used in criminality, emerging on the back of the 2016 ban when some retailers exploited this loophole to keep selling these dangerous weapons but evade the law. The measures being introduced today will put an end to this technicality.

In line with previous knife bans, a surrender and compensation scheme will be introduced from the 26 August, and further guidance on how this will operate will be published in June.

Steel Warriors Head of Operations Christian d’Ippolito said:

Steel Warriors welcome the steps being taken by the government to strengthen its tough knife crime laws to keep dangerous knives off our streets. Weapons like these should not be available to young people, they have no place in modern society and should not be glorified.

At Steel Warriors we believe that lives should be built by steel, not destroyed by it. We melt down confiscated knives and recycle them into outdoor gyms, we then provide free community classes to transform the lives of young people affected by crime, violence and social exclusion, giving them the confidence they need to create positive futures.

During a visit to Kent Police yesterday, the Home Secretary saw first-hand how Home Office-funded youth violence prevention projects are helping steer young people away from violent crime. Recent independent evaluation has shown that the government’s Violence Reduction Units, in combination with hotspot policing patrols, have prevented an estimated 3,220 hospital admissions for violent injury since 2019 in areas where the programme operates.

The Home Secretary also met with Yemi Hughes, the mother of a knife crime victim, Idris Elba and members of his ‘Don’t Stop Your Future’ campaign yesterday afternoon to discuss action being taken on serious violence and what more can be done to tackle the issue.

The legislation laid in Parliament will amend the Criminal Justice Act 1988.

January 28, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Bank of England and HM Treasury respond to digital pound consultation [January 2024]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 25 January 2024.

The Bank of England (the Bank) and HM Treasury have today published their response to the consultation on a digital pound that was launched in February 2023.
- Bank of England and HM Treasury update on proposals for a digital pound which would include primary legislation to guarantee users’ privacy and control.
- Response confirms that neither the Bank nor the government would have access to users’ personal data.
- Authorities committed to maintaining access to cash for those who prefer it.
- Continuing work on digital currency will strengthen the UK’s position as a competitive global leader in finance.
The Bank of England (the Bank) and HM Treasury have today (25 January) published their response to the consultation on a digital pound that was launched in February 2023.

No final decision has been made to pursue a digital pound – also called a central bank digital currency (CBDC).

Work will continue during the design phase exploring its feasibility and potential design choices. This will look at how a digital pound could be used in the UK economy, providing greater choice, convenience and innovation for households and businesses making and accepting everyday payments. As part of broader work on payments innovation, the work will also help strengthen the UK’s position as a competitive global leader in finance.

The feedback from respondents from a range of industries and organisations was largely supportive of the proposed design set out in the 2023 Consultation Paper, while other respondents raised concerns about the implications of a digital pound for access to cash, users’ privacy, and control of their money.

To address these concerns, today’s publication confirms that, if a digital pound were to be implemented, primary legislation would be introduced, and this would guarantee users’ privacy and control. The Bank and the government would not have access to any personal data and users would have freedom in how they spent their digital pounds. There would also be a further public consultation on a digital pound prior to the introduction of primary legislation. These commitments would give both Parliament and the public further opportunities to have their say.

In addition, today’s publication reiterates the commitment of both the government and the Bank to protect access to cash, even if a digital pound were introduced.

Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Bim Afolami, said:

“We are at an exciting time of innovation in money and payments, and we want to ensure the UK is ready should a decision to build a digital pound be taken in the future. This is the latest stage in our national conversation on the future of our money – and it is far from the last.

“We will always ensure people’s privacy is paramount in any design, and any rollout would be alongside, not instead of, traditional cash.“

Deputy Governor for Financial Stability, Sarah Breeden, said:

“Trust in all forms of money is an absolute necessity. We know the decision on whether or not to introduce a digital pound in the UK will be a major one for the future of money. It is essential that we build that trust and have the support of the public and businesses who would be using it if introduced.”

Following the design phase, the Bank and the government will decide whether or not to build a digital pound, and, if proceeding, would set out a timetable for further consultation on legislation and a potential launch.

What would a digital pound look like?
- A digital pound would complement the role of cash in a digital world and give people more choice in how they make everyday payments.
- £10 of a digital pound would always be worth the same as £10 in banknotes or coins.
- It would be issued by the Bank of England, widely available and convenient to use.
- It would be easily exchangeable with other forms of money, including cash and bank deposits.
- It would be accessed through digital wallets offered to the public and businesses by the private sector through smartphones or smartcards.
- It would be intended for payments made online, in-store, and between individuals, rather than for savings, and it would not pay interest.
- There would be restrictions, at least initially, on how much an individual or business could hold.
- Like banknotes, it would be a claim on the Bank of England, have intrinsic value and be stable, unlike unbacked cryptoassets.
January 28, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Anti-drone no fly zones to combat prison smuggling [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 25 January 2024.

Criminal gangs who try to fly phones, drugs and weapons into prisons using drones face finding themselves there instead under tough new restrictions coming into force today (25 January).
- New 400m drone ‘no-fly zones’ around prisons come into force
- Ten-year maximum prison sentence for criminals who breach restrictions
- Major disruption to criminal gangs as key drug supply route cut off
The new law makes it an automatic offence simply to fly drones within 400 metres of prisons and young offender institutions. Previously, police could only act where there was evidence of contraband being smuggled.

Drone operators who break the rules will be fined up to £2,500 while those smuggling illicit items which drive violence and criminality in custody may face up to a decade behind bars.

The crackdown comes as figures reveal that the number of drones captured or sighted within prison grounds has more than doubled between 2019 and 2021.

The virtual ‘no-fly zones’ will increase the likelihood of police catching organised criminals in the act – making it easier to bring prosecutions, convictions and lengthy jail terms. These new anti-drone measures will also enhance security by preventing illegal aerial filming of prisons.

Prisons and Probation Minister Edward Argar said:

We are working harder than ever to prevent the smuggling of contraband into our prisons and this is the latest step to keep ahead of the tactics exploited by organised criminals.

These new anti-drone measures – along with our advanced airport-style x-ray security and drug detection dogs – will crackdown on those illicit items that fuel violence behind bars.

Over 500 drones were either sighted, intercepted or seized around prisons in England and Wales between 2019 and 2021. Since June 2016, police and prison staff have worked collaboratively to make over 70 drone-related convictions amassing a total of 240 years behind bars for those who broke the law.

One attempted illegal drone operation at HMP Risley in Cheshire saw an organised gang try and smuggle in Class A drugs, mobile phones and SIM cards worth upwards of £1.7million in prison. This group undertook more than 20 drone flights above prison grounds between August and December 2020. Following an extensive joint operation between Cheshire Police and staff at HMP Risley, the seven individuals involved were sentenced to more than 30 years in prison.

The new law follows a £100 million investment in bolstered prison security measures which has seen 95 prisons equipped with next-generation trace detection equipment and 75 additional prisons equipped with X-ray body scanners. Other measures include:
- The deployment of more than 600 specially trained search dogs to help crack down on attempts to smuggle illicit contraband behind bars.
- The recruitment of 160 additional counter-corruption personnel to help root out the dangerous few prison staff who abuse our rules.
January 27, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Joint Press Release – The UK and State of Kuwait celebrates 125 years of official diplomatic relations [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 January 2024.

Joint statement on the 125th Anniversary of Official Diplomatic Relations between the State of Kuwait & the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

This week marks 125 years since our two countries signed the Anglo-Kuwaiti Agreement of 1899, launching official diplomatic relations between the State of Kuwait and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Believing in the importance of celebrating this landmark, our respective Governments have jointly agreed to declare 2024 the Year of the Kuwaiti-British Partnership, as per the agreement signed on 29 August 2023, in the margins of the visit of His Highness the Amir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, then Crown Prince, to the United Kingdom.

The close and deep-rooted relationship between our two countries has grown steadily over the past century and a quarter. We have supported each other to tackle regional and global challenges, and to defend and promote our common values.

The Year of the Kuwaiti-British Partnership is an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the past 125 years, such as our historic investment relationship, underpinned by the Kuwait Investment Office’s 70-year presence in the City of London, and our collaboration to defend Kuwait’s sovereignty and territorial integrity during the First Gulf War. We will also seek to enhance current and future cooperation through high-level visits, events and initiatives, such as cultural exchanges and education programmes. Both Governments are committed to continuing to broaden and deepen our friendship, and ensuring the special ties between our two peoples continue to grow for another 125 years.

Key areas of focus for cooperation will include trade and investment, defence, cyber security, education, culture, and international development. Foreign Ministers will meet for our Strategic Dialogue, while other senior visits will support this cooperation, and drive forward collaboration on key foreign policy issues which underpin our mutual security and prosperity, as well as on the shared challenges and opportunities that are emerging in our ever-changing world.

Both countries are eagerly awaiting the rollout of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme to Kuwaiti Nationals in February. This will strengthen further our people-to-people ties by making it easier than ever before to travel to the UK. We also look forward to building on existing cooperation in the field of cybersecurity and defence, including the United Kingdom’s work to help establish the National Cyber Security Center in Kuwait, and to reinforcing long-standing ties between our two countries.

The State of Kuwait and the United Kingdom renew their commitment to continue strengthening cooperation for the benefit of our two friendly peoples and the wider world.

Commenting on this landmark occasion, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, British Minister of State for the Middle East, South Asia, UN and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, stated:

I am delighted that we are celebrating this the 125th year of the Kuwaiti-British Partnership. The UK cherishes its close bond with Kuwait and is excited by the opportunity this special year presents to both reflect on our shared history and enhance future cooperation across a range of fields. On a personal note, I am very much looking forward to visiting Kuwait next month for the purpose of co-chairing the twentieth Kuwait-UK Joint Steering Group alongside my good friend His Excellency Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait – and to taking part in further ‘125’ events and initiatives throughout 2024. I have every confidence that our extraordinary ties will continue to grow for another century and a quarter and beyond.

His Excellency Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait added:

Kuwait is proud of its exceptional and historic relations with the United Kingdom, and determined to build on all we have achieved over the past 125 years, including through His Highness the Amir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s, historic visit to London in August of last year as an official Guest of His Majesty’s Government. Both countries are looking forward to launching various activities and exchanging high-level visits throughout 2024, with the aim of strengthening both official and people-to-people relations between us.

January 27, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Sewer power to heat homes and businesses and help keep bills low after government backing [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 25 January 2024.

Homes and businesses to benefit from greener, low-cost heating as 4 new Green Heat Network projects receive a share of £80.6 million.
£80.6 million to develop greener, low-cost heating systems in 4 new projects across England

nearly 2,000 homes and businesses to be powered by excess heat taken from a sewer

more than £8 million will upgrade inefficient heat networks to reduce bills and improve reliability

Nearly 2,000 homes and businesses could be heated with sewer power, as a new green heating project receives a share of £80.6 million from the government today (25 January).

The new project, backed by £11 million from the government, will see Bolton residents keep their homes and businesses warm with waste heat from the town’s sewer. Energy will be extracted from both sewage and waste hot water from washing machines, bathrooms and kitchens to fuel a new heat pump, as part of Bolton’s first district heating network, helping to keep bills low.

The move will provide a recycled heating source for the local community – including the University of Bolton and the Town Council – helping keep energy bills down. It is one of 4 innovative green heating projects to receive grants today from the government’s Green Heat Network Fund.

The projects in Exeter, London and Hull will help cut carbon emissions from homes and businesses – and put the UK a step closer to reaching net zero by 2050.

Today’s funding comes alongside more than £8 million of government investment to improve 34 inefficient heat networks. The money will enable upgrades, creating a more reliable heating supply for more than 9,000 residents, hospital patients, students and public sector workers, as well as keeping bills down.

Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, said:

These innovative projects will help drive down energy costs while also demonstrating why the UK has led the way in cutting carbon emissions.

They show how energy sources can be found in the most unexpected places – as more homes and businesses will benefit from cleaner heating and lower energy bills.

Our upgrades will also make sure our existing heat networks are upgraded – so customers can get the reliable heating supply they deserve.

Other projects to receive a share of the £80.6 million from the Green Heat Network Fund include:

the Exeter Energy Network, which will receive £42.5 million to build a heat network using air source heat pumps and the UK’s largest high-temperature water source heat pump. Buildings connected to the network will see an initial reduction of 65-75% in carbon emissions compared to gas heating

the Hull East District Heat Network, awarded £22 million to build a heat network using excess heat generated by a nearby chemicals park. The project will provide low carbon heating to 14 public sector council buildings and industrial businesses

the Greenwich Peninsula ESCO District Heating Network in London will receive £4.6 million to connect more than 9,000 existing and new homes, as well as over 94,000 square metres of commercial space to low-carbon heating. This cleaner energy will be powered by an air source heat pump fixed on the roof of the Greenwich Peninsula Energy Centre

Heat networks supply heating and hot water to homes and businesses via heat pumps or sources from underground, manufacturing, and waste management. They help cut carbon emissions by supplying heat to multiple buildings from a central source, avoiding the need for households and workplaces to rely on individual, energy-intensive heating solutions, such as gas boilers.

The transition to heat networks forms a major part of the UK’s carbon reduction commitment, with heating in buildings making up 30% of all UK emissions.

Today’s £8 million investment from the government’s Heat Network Efficiency Scheme will support vital upgrades to 34 heat network projects across England and Wales. The scheme will enable network operators to replace inefficient or old equipment to offer a more reliable service and improved heating.

Projects to receive funding to improve heat networks include:

Newport City Homes Housing Association Limited, which has been awarded £3.7 million to upgrade the Duffryn District Heating System, improving the performance of the network for more than 970 homes, a local school, and businesses. Funding will go towards replacing over 3km of pipework across the network, while also upgrading control systems and insulation

Bristol Heat Networks Limited, which will receive £746,582 for the Redcliffe Heat Network, with 740 residents benefitting from improvements. Funding will help replace the pipework across the network

the University of Plymouth, which has been awarded £243,280 to upgrade to a sustainable heating system in the Portland Square area of its campus. The funding will improve the efficiency of the network allowing fossil fuel-powered appliances to be replaced with heat pumps and electric boilers

Stephen Knight, Managing Director at Heat Trust, the national consumer protection scheme for heat network customers, said:

At Heat Trust we sadly hear of far too many examples of inefficient and poorly performing heat networks. These can result in much higher heating costs for residents, overheating corridors and frequent breakdowns.

The steep rises in gas prices over the last few years has meant that inefficient heat networks can be very expensive for residents.

The government’s Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES) is therefore an important step in the right direction, and we welcome today’s announcement of funding. I would urge all those responsible for running existing heat networks to consider bidding for this funding in future rounds.

Sarah Honan, Head of Policy at the Association for Decentralised Energy, said:

Today’s announcement takes us an important step closer to heat networks’ ultimate role in decarbonising the bulk of heat across the UK’s cities, towns and buildings. As we embark on the journey towards regulation, heat network zoning and the expansion of existing schemes, the ADE is very glad to see government supporting sector growth and high industry standards.

Heat networks are a key solution in the mix of technologies that will make up the energy system of the future – not only will they be essential in decarbonising our homes and offices, factories and shops, but without them, the UK will not be able to build the truly resilient and flexible grid needed for the future.
January 27, 2024